Land Rover Tests Their New LR2's Capabilities
 
You've heard of off-road driving, but what about off-roading off-land? Land Rover is taking their new LR2 out on the water on a first-of-its-kind floating track.
 
The premium compact SUV is being put to the test out in the middle of Biscayne Bay off of Miami, Florida. In true off-road style, the LR2 is tackling tough terrain including inclines, rocks, and over 800 yards of dirt track - all while never touching land.
 
The off-coast course lies on three barges and uses 1000 tons of dirt and 40 tons of boulders. It's aimed at showcasing the LR2's new Permanent Intelligent All-Wheel Drive as well as Land Rover's unique Terrain Response system. This is a first for the car class that lets the driver set the road conditions with the turn of a dial, so the car can conquer any terrain.
 
Land Rover Experience - Extraordinary in Action Tour
 
The national tour indulges guests in the Land Rover lifestyle and showcases the capabilities of the full model line-up over specially designed off-road courses. Guests primarily include potential customers, with an estimated number of 150-200 people going through the program per day. There are about seven available appointment times per day, keeping the flow of guests one-on-one.
 
Vehicles are the main attraction and this year includes the entire Land Rover lineup: Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and LR3. Guests have the opportunity to drive the Land Rover of their choice off-road while accompanied by one of Land Rover's Certified Driving Instructors who are on hand to answer any questions that arise.
 
The demonstrations, made up of interactive sessions, run approximately 45 minutes and are designed to appeal to guests who enjoy the finer things in life. Sessions include; culinary arts, premium fragrances and innovative technology.

THE RANGE ROVER GAINS EXTRA TECHNOLOGY AND ENHANCED CABIN FOR 2007 MODEL YEAR
 
The Range Rover gains a series of enhancements to its cabin, chassis and off-road systems for the 2007 model year, reinforcing its position as the world's most complete luxury SUV with permanent four-wheel-drive.
 
The latest improvements to Land Rover's flagship include interior design refinements and a host of technical improvements that strengthen the vehicle's blend of outstanding capability and exceptional comfort. Its off-road performance is further extended by the addition of Land Rover's patented Terrain Response system.
 
'To maintain the Range Rover's outstanding reputation, we continuously look at how we can update and upgrade the vehicle,' says Richard Beattie, Land Rover's North America's Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing. Substantial packages of refinements both this year and last meet - and often anticipate - the requirements of both new and existing Range Rover customers.'
 
The two powerful new V8 engines introduced for Range Rover last year continue - a 400 hp supercharged unit and a naturally aspirated 305 hp engine.
 
An optional rear 'e' (electronic) differential is now available (standard on Supercharged models) and works in conjunction with the vehicle's standard center 'e' diff and the new Terrain Response system to give the latest Range Rover greater breadth of capability than ever before.
 
The intuitive Terrain Response system is fitted as standard on all Range Rovers at 2007 model year, and allows the driver to select one of five distinct vehicle settings to suit the terrain. Key software and hardware settings for the vehicle's powertrain, transmission, braking, stability-control and suspension systems are then optimised to tackle these specific conditions.
 
'Not only does Terrain Response deliver exceptional off-road performance and composure,' says Beattie, 'it also reduces driver effort and increases confidence. And it can benefit on-road driving too, so it's a perfect example of Land Rover's commitment to provide the greatest breadth of capability in the class.'
 
Interior enhancements apply across the Range Rover line-up for 2007 model year. The cabin gains better stowage space (including electronically-released twin glove-boxes), an updated airbag strategy, a cleaner center console design, an electronic park brake, and a new fascia, as well as substantially improved air conditioning and ventilation. Switchgear and the audio system have been improved, and there are more extensive wood and metallic finishes, all contributing to an enhanced premium feel.
 
The new front seats are now available with optional cooled-air ventilation, in addition to the standard heating feature, and anti-whiplash head restraints contribute to improved safety.
 
For more specification and option information on the New Range Rover for 2007 come back to landroverusa.com in the fall or sign-up at landroverusa.com to receive updates.
 
Optional equipment shown.

Range Stormer Concept, from Land Rover
 
Range Stormer is a high-performance, Sports-tourer SUV concept car, which showcases a future design direction for Land Rover and the company's increasingly bold approach to new technologies.
 
It is also the first-ever Land Rover concept to preview a new production model, one that will enter a fresh market segment for the company. This will be an additional model line in the Land Rover portfolio.
 
"The supercharged V8 Range Stormer gives a taste of our forthcoming new entrant in the booming high-performance SUV segment," says the managing director of Land Rover, Matthew Taylor. "The production vehicle that follows will share many of its styling and technical innovations."
 
"Range Stormer is a modern, striking, high-technology vehicle," he adds. "It is very much conceived to be an on-road, high-performance machine, as well as class-leading off-road like all Land Rovers. Breadth of capability is one of its many strengths."
 
Future technologies previewed with the concept include an all-new platform that will be the basis for future full-size Land Rover models. This advanced, fully integrated platform, unique to Land Rover, will provide the underpinnings for the production vehicle inspired by Range Stormer.
 
Another major innovation is Terrain Response.TM This smart and simple-to-use new Land Rover technology delivers the best possible on-road and off-road composure and control, by optimizing the entire vehicle setup, including suspension, powertrain, throttle response and traction control. The driver simply selects the appropriate Terrain Response setting from the six available on Range Stormer, varying from "dynamic" for high speed work to "deep ruts" for extreme off-roading.
 
"You'll be seeing an increasing amount of innovative technology in our future vehicles," says Matthew Taylor. "But technology that makes the driver's task simpler, not more complicated, such as Terrain Response. You select the terrain. The car then helps you conquer it."

LAND ROVER LR2 SETS NEW STANDARDS IN THE COMPACT PREMIUM CLASS
 
IRVINE, Calif., June 23, 2006 - Land Rover today revealed the all-new LR2 that enters the compact premium SUV market with outstanding breadth of capability and Land Rover's signature technologies.
 
The fourth new model from Land Rover in just four years, LR2 joins the impressive line-up of Range Rover (2002), Land Rover LR3 (2004) and Range Rover Sport (2005) that together have seen record-breaking sales performance around the world.
 
New from the ground up, LR2 delivers outstanding on-road performance as well as the class-leading off-road ability of a Land Rover. A dynamic design, purposeful stance, smart and spacious interior, and an abundance of advanced technologies complete the LR2 package.
 
"LR2 combines the advantages of a premium sedan - such as polished ride, accomplished performance, an attractive cabin and ease-of-use - with the attributes of a robust SUV, including go-anywhere ability, toughness, stadium seating, cabin versatility and spaciousness," says Phil Popham, Land Rover's managing director. "We believe that no other compact SUV gets closer to blending these best-of-both-worlds abilities."
 
Technical highlights of the LR2 include a brand-new 230bhp* transversely mounted 3.2-liter inline-six engine featuring advanced technologies to deliver an outstanding combination of performance and economy.
 
The engine is matched to a new six-speed automatic transmission, with Land Rover's CommandShift(tm) offering manual sequential gear changes when required. There is also a driver-selectable sport mode for livelier performance.
 
The exterior and interior design of LR2 is completely fresh, integrating the company's unique design language with a form that is instantly recognizable as the latest Land Rover.
 
"We purposely kept strong Land Rover design cues, such as the clamshell bonnet, stepped roof and the basic form," says Land Rover design director Geoff Upex. "The overall look is new and contemporary. The design is chiseled, geometric and simple - it looks like it's hewn from the solid. We have kept a close design relationship with the LR3 and Range Rover Sport, but interpreted the design language to suit the requirements of customers for a more compact SUV."
 
The body is a five-door monocoque structure, with a high level of torsional rigidity which benefits refinement, comfort and handling on-road as well as ensuring the vehicle is fit for serious off-road use. The suspension is fully independent and uses the most modern stability control systems, including Roll Stability Control (RSC®), a sophisticated technology that helps mitigate the risk of roll-over even in extreme conditions.
 
LR2 is packed with new technologies to improve both on-road and off-road performance. Land Rover's unique Terrain Response(tm) is standard, making off-road use easier. Other interesting technologies include a new intelligent permanent all-wheel-drive system for superior traction and better on-road fuel economy, and the patented Gradient Release Control, which improves driver confidence and control when releasing the brakes on steep and slippery slopes.
 
Designed and engineered by Land Rover at Gaydon, near Warwick, England, LR2 is built at the Halewood plant in Liverpool, where outstanding build quality has been acknowledged with a JD Power European Plant Quality Gold Award in 2005.

4x4 MAGAZINE'S 4x4 OF THE YEAR 2006 ACCOLADE GOES TO LAND ROVER'S RANGE ROVER SPORT
 
Gaydon, Warwickshire, 4 August 2005 ­- Land Rover has won three awards from influential specialist title 4x4 Magazine in its 4x4 of the Year 2006 competition, with the Range Rover Sport beating 42 other 4x4s to the top accolade.
 
The Range Rover Sport Supercharged won the Luxury category, beating the BMW X5, Lexus RX300, Volvo XC90 and VW Touareg before also being crowned 4x4 Magazine's 4x4 of the Year 2006. Land Rover's latest addition to the range convinced the judges with its unique breadth of capability, dynamic exterior looks, luxurious interior package and pioneering technologies such as the patented Terrain Response system.
 
Commenting on the Range Rover Sport, 4x4 Magazine's judges said: "There could only be one winner, because there was only one car that filled our enthusiast senses with its unbelievable blend of charismatic off-road ability and breathtaking on-road performance. A superb technically advanced machine, packing enough practicality to serve as a genuine family sports-tourer, but one that the true high-performance driving enthusiast will enjoy beyond measure."
 
Land Rover UK managing director, Phil Popham, added: "This is another prestigious title for the Range Rover Sport and a well-deserved victory for the Defender, which proves it is still a peerless off-road icon. We know only too well the rigours our products are put through by the judges at 4x4 Magazine, so to come away with three awards is truly a remarkable achievement."

"A NEW BENCHMARK."